Here is a pristine view of the L.A. Sports Arena in 1962, three years after it opened. Now that a soccer stadium will be built here, let’s remember some things that took place there: Wilt Chamberlain played his first NBA game, scoring 28 points in an exhibition between the Philadelphia Warriors and St. Louis Hawks on Sept. 30, 1959. There were also two Final Fours in 1968 and 1972. The 1960 Democratic Convention also took placeĀ in the Sports Arena. Not to mention, USC and UCLA basketball, the Lakers and Clippers along with boxing for the 1984 Olympics. And memorable Bruce Springsteen and U2 concerts.
Yes, the building declined over the years but the view from the seats was better than most modern arenas and it’s worth appreciating its history. Here are some of the best moments from Daily News columnist Tom Hoffarth.
Perhaps the greatest SC-SUCLA basketball game was played there, with the teams being No. 1 and No. 2 in the nation. SC had the guard play with Mo Layton and Paul Westphal, and a rebounding giant in Ron Riley, but it was not enough to overcome the Evil Ones in a tight game all the way to the finish.
Sydney Wicks was the field general that night – he singlehandedley took control of the game – no ‘big man’ for ucla – Steve Patterson was the center.
Sydney Wicks and Curtis Rowe were the best at ugly.
SC scored 1 point over the final 9 minutes or so after having a double digit lead. Not as big a collapse as the Clippers the other evening, but pretty much a choke job by the men of Troy on that evening. SC came into the game ranked #1, I believe. I was in attendance as well.
As for a game that would make more Trojans happy, I do remember something like a 4 OT loss to SC at Pauley during the Harold Miner era, if memory serves me correctly. It may be a more pleasant memory for you JW.
1985 – a couple years before Miner. Winning basket at the buzzer by Charlie Simpson. SC were Pac 10 champs that year. UCLA went to the NIT.
And then Stan Morrison brought in Bo Kimble and Hank Gathers and was fired…bye bye USC basketball for the next 3 decades.
Stan Morrison chased Bo Kimble and Hank Gathers out. They went to LMU. He also chased off Bill Lambeer who was from Palos Verdes and went to ND, I think. The same Lambeer that played for detroit.
I don’t know the details of the assertion that Morrison ran off Kimble and Gathers.. But I do know that Stan Morrison’s loss was astronomical.
And the fact is that SC was big-time in basketball up to the 60s when SUCLA took over. SC has had its moments since the 60s, and there is no reason why the Trojans cannot become the dominant basketball school in California.
Wrong, they left in protest after Stan was fired and Mike McGee brought in “Jim Raveling-George Raveling.”
Probation, I think it was 3 OT’s. But it was a great game.
Incorrect.
It was indeed 4 OTs. And it was Wayne Carlander who was the hero. I was taunting the Midget-Bears all night (I was younger then), and I was worn out at the end, as was everybody else.
It was Carlander, not Miner.
And SC did not choke away the 1971 game. The lead was 9-points in the second half, and as will happen with guard play (ask Curry) sometimes the ball just will not fall for them. And Wicks was a monster (and maybe the Midget-Bears’ best player after Alcindor and Walton), and took over the game.
Wicks was truly a leader – he was the coach that night not the peckerhead
Pink Floyd did ” The Wall ” there for 7 night’s.
Don’t forget the Boss (well he also played in the Coliseum)
Bruce refers to the sports Arena as
“The Joint that Doesn’t Disappoint”
the trOXan baskeball fans called it: “the Joint Where We Can’t Score a Point”
#ItsLikeThat
Not bad
This is why Bucket is tolerable – he has a good sense of humor. As opposed to “UCLA Owns” who comes here every day and more or less says “I hate USC”.
OLAF is like a hyperactive chihuahua, lifting his hind leg on every comment……
Kraps, keep your nose out of my booty.
Are you sending from the bar? Drunk again.
#imsoooooostupid
CowPolyFan3.0 is “druk” again.
The next time Owns says something that even starts to approach being funny will be the first
Saw the Boss at the Coliseum in’85.
That explains a lot, SoCalScrub_69er.
That explains a lot about you, SoCalScrub_69er.
I saw the “Greatest Show on Earth ” circus at the sports arena and more than once free USC basketball after a football game.
I am sure many trolls will love those two sports arena memories.
I watched the 1974 World Cup Final at the Sports Arena on closed-circuit TV with lots of other immigrants.
I was there too. What a coincidence!
Small world Jethro.
Thanks for the painful reminder…….Go Oranje!……Hup Holland Hup!
In that case I won’t mention that I watched the ’78 final there too.
Or that the Dutch hit the post with a header in the last minute of regulation in a 1-1 game.
They’ve had some great, but underachieving, teams……..Total futbol at it’s finest…..a beautiful thing to watch….
Definitely the unluckiest team in WC history. Three close losses in finals & two semifinal exits on PKs…….ouch!
I know…….but that will make a WC victory that much sweeter, if it were to ever happen in my lifetime…..unfortunately, they keep getting in the way of themselves with their massive egos….
You’re killing me, Globehead……but good memories, nonetheless ……….
I saw Oscar Dela Hoya beat Julio Cesar Chavez on closed circuit there and shook hands with a crazy drunk mexican guy.
Chavez was past his prime at the time. I wanted Chavez. But the young De La Hoya was too much for him.
Saw many concerts there and remember walking there while in school to go see the Trojan’s play. Good memories!
Don’t forget they actually played hockey there with the Kings before the Forum was finished and minor league hockey. BTW, does anyone know if Galen has ice making equipment to convert to hockey in the floor?
Yes it does – it has a refrigerator beneath the pine – the problem is the brainiacs over at bel-air tech, when they ‘modernized’ Pauley failed to do the same.
Didn’t they install a wading pool at Pauley a while back?
Total attendance for for 16 Klown U Home Basketball games – 3256 or an average of 206 rummies with free tickets per game. Yowsa.
You are wack……or DRUNK
“Druk” again on soda pop.
You sure are. Drink up all weekend. Your sponsor is out of town.
CowPolyFan3.0, who does your real team the Mustangs play this weekend?
I hate USC!!!
Hey ugly rents the rose bowl, are you mistaken for ugly’s football attendance, which includes the team?
Just in case the Ice Capades may need a very small venue, Galen Barn will be ready. LOL.
UCLA Basketball wins NC’s; SUCC Basketball warms up the sparse crowd for Klownsters on ice,
Yep. UCLA’s been racking up the national titles lately. What is it now – one in 40 years?
Lately? It’s been 12 years since the shared 2003 title.
Actually SC won titles in 2003 and 2004, which gave the school 11 Football National Championships. It almost won in 2005 as well.
Incorrect, the 2004 BCS title was vacated due to the use of an ineligible player.
Yep, how true.
Talk about Yesterday-U. At Kentucky and Duke their kids think the last year of SUCLA’s reign in 1974 was right after the Civil War.
Stones were there in 1965
And they played at the LA Coliseum in 1981…..
Oh yeah 1981 – Prince, brand news as an up and comer and lousy at the time, was getting shoes and trash hurled at him as he pranced all over the stage – then a self-appointed hall monitor took the mic and gave the challenge “..If you people think you'[re so good why don’t you get up here and perform!”
And the all time putdown in the history of rock music came right back at him.
“HEY I DIDN’T PAY $25.00 to SEE ME!” which was echoed by all the rest of the hoi polloi surrounding the stage – had to be there.
Is that what all the fuss was about, rusoviet? I was there, but in the nosebleed seats, and could not make out what was happening.
….wait, USC has a basketball team?
The building should be bronzed and preserved just in memoriam for the 1960 Democratic Convention. What a weekend. Or whatever.